Please donate to support our ‘Plants to Save the Planet’ Project. The Project is directed at enabling designers of ‘carbon farms’ and ‘food forests’: agroecosystems of perennial plants, to choose the most appropriate plants for their requirements and site conditions. We are working on a subset of plants in the PFAF database identified as having the most potential for inclusion in such designs. We are adding search terms and icons to those plants pages, and providing a range of search options aligned to categories of plants and crop yields, with Help facilities including videos. More >>>

Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Rubus odoratus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 2.5 m (8ft) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Synonyms

Habitats

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[105, 161, 257]. Somewhat tart and dry[2], it is usually cooked and used in pies, jellies, preserves etc[183]. The fruit can be dried for later use[257]. This species rarely fruits well in Britain, probably due to our cooler summers[11].

The leaves are highly astringent[207]. They are used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea[238]. The leaves have been used as a wash for old and foul sores, boils etc[257]. A decoction or infusion of the branches has been used to settle the stomach[257]. A decoction of the leaves and stems has been used to treat kidney complaints[257]. The root is astringent. A decoction of the root or the root bark has been used as a treatment for diarrhoea and colds[257]. The root has been used in the treatment of toothaches[257]. The berries have been used as a diuretic[257].

Our new book Edible Shrubs is now available.

Edible Shrubs provides detailed information, attractively presented, on over 70 shrub species. They have been selected to provide a mix of different plant sizes and growing conditions. Most provide delicious and nutritious fruit, but many also have edible leaves, seeds, flowers, stems or roots, or they yield edible or useful oil.

Special Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1, 11, 200]. Grows well in a sandy soil but does not like clay[182]. Prefers a semi-shaded position. Does well in a woodland garden though it is less likely to fruit well in such a position. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -30°c[184]. The glandular hairs on the stems have a powerful resinous scent somewhat like cedarwood[245]. A vigorous suckering shrub, it has perennial stems without prickles[200]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures.
Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat.
The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C).
At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days).
For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius
Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Propagation

Seed - requires stratification, is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed as early as possible in the year in a cold frame and stratify for a month at 3°c if sowing later than February. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Flowering raspberry, Thimbleberry, Rose-flowering raspberry,

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, North America, USA,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Expert comment

Author

Botanical References

Links / References

Readers comment

Sun Oct 23 2005

Hi, I just want to mention that the thimbleberry is also
found in the western U.S., from Alaska to Newfoundland,
and Alaska to California and on into northern Mexico. I\'ve
lived in western Oregon and northwestern California for most of my
life, and it\'s found in both of these locations.
Thanks!

Jade

Thu Aug 7 2008

I was in Southern British Columbia, Canada. And I ate a Thimbleberry.... I thought it was a strange raspberry

Deanna Gregory

Fri Aug 28 2009

I live in Vermont, and when I saw these plants from the road I could have sworen that they were purple roses, to my suprize nopw they are a sort of raspberry, I make jams so I am eager to start picking them. Yummmy to all I knows tummy
DEE

QR Code

What's this?

This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to our website pages. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone (smartphone) cameras. This QR Code is unique to this page. All plant pages have their own unique code. For more information about QR Codes click here.

1. Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts.

2. Smartphone users scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to the webpage the QR Code came from.

3. Smartphone users quickly have information on a plant directly for the pfaf.org website on their phone.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Content

PFAF Newsletter

*Email Address

Stay informed about PFAFs progress, challenges and hopes by signing up for our free email ePost. You will receive a range of benefits including:
* Important announcements and news
* Exclusive content not on the website
* Updates on new information & functionality of the website & database

We will not sell or share your email address.
You can unsubscribe at anytime.